There are many ways one can define music from this year. Whether you attended major concerts such as Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Drake or Ed Sheeran, Lollapalooza, or local concerts, we are definitely in an era where the superfans have more say than the critics on deciding what gets played. This is not necessarily a bad thing as people discovering music on Instagram and TikTok gives light to new artists and genres as opposed to journalists and critics from old and legacy media outlets being tastemakers. Media is changing where critics are becoming of less importance (unless it’s Keith Lee for food and begrudgingly Anthony Fantano for music) as more musicians, influencers, and content creators on different platforms can provide opinions on music as quickly as songs and albums are released.
Music criticism and journalism can be great in a music landscape driven by fragmentation and awash in way too many things to listen to. While USA Today can hire journalists to exclusively cover Beyonce and Taylor Swift respectively, we need people talking about local and emerging music scenes in every way to avoid having music that comes being baselessly labeled as content and quickly forgotten.
Being one person, It’s an impossible task to listen to everything that’s out on New Music Friday. A lot of work I listened to stuck with me in ways that allowed me to process the good and bad of this year. Some were from major releases, and some were artists that I rediscovered or dug into more. Wanted to provide a list of 30 albums and songs that spoke to me the most this year.
This year brought up many questions related to music. After 50 years, can hip-hop remain a social and cultural force? With artists such as Peso Pluma, how far can Regional Mexicano music go? Can Afrobeats find a commonplace on the pop charts similar to the paths of K-Pop and Reggeatón? Does an artist releasing an album even matter any more than a body of work? How will AI affect songwriting and vocal production a few years down the road? These questions can be found in the music this year with the answers waiting within the lyrics.
*Note: Obviously this list will change early next year. Definitely, the latter half this year brought less time to listening to albums than I had initially planned. Certain artists I wanted to listen to more I did not get around to. With turning 30 next year, hope to track the best songs and albums of from 1994 moving forward. This 2023 list will definitely be updated.
Youtube & Spotify Playlists
Best Songs 2023
- Cleo Sol – Only Love Can Wait (Producer: Inflo)
A song I played a lot this year. Finding love within yourself or with someone does not fall on any perceived timeline or schedule. No matter facing doubt, anxiety, depression, or addiction, we all have gifts to offer to others and ourselves to grow. No matter our history, of fear or anxiety that may fall with love, once someone realizes their gifts, our fears in what people think subside as we grow within ourselves to be steadfast in who we are before we love others.
- Zach Bryan – East Side of Sorrow (Producer: Zach Bryan)
Sometimes the relationships we carry with others end out of the blue and we need time to mourn. This song pained the need to lament.
- Victoria Monet – Cadalliac (A Pimp’s Anthem) (Producers: D’Mile & Tim Suby)
A very sultry groove and the most underrated track from a great album. For the R&B heads, the rhythm is very near to Anthony Hamilton’s Coming From Where I’m From
- Navy Blue & Budgie – To Fall In Love (Producers: Budgie & Om’mas Keith)
Sometimes people come into our lives for a season and reason. What we learn from them in a short amount of time teaches us how to love and serve others in a deeper way after their gone.
- Sylvan LaCue & Xavier Omar – Distractions (Producer: Sylvan LaCue)
This makes use of a rising gospel sample beat. Sometimes to grow you have to lose and make a big mess
- Fuerza Ragida & Grupo Frontera – Babe Dame (Producer: Jesus Ortiz Paz)
Although released in late 2022 the song’s intro always makes for a good sing-along. Perfect slow Cumbia song. Also hearing a live Salsa version while dancing is great.
- D2X – Dreams of a Teenage Adolescent (Producer: Playa Haze)
An honest confession of parental relationships and learning from the past to work to build the seeds of family for the next generation
- Brent Faiyaz/Coco Jones – Moment of Your Life (Producers: Dpat, Mannyvelli, & Sparkheem)
Propped by a Nicole Wray/Missy Elliot sample, the song along with the album makes good use of the late 90s and early 2000s to set Brent’s vision of him against the world.
- Jim Legxacy – Mileys Riddim (Producer: Jim Legxacy)
Who knew a Hannah Montana flip and an ad for an online Nigerian music radio station would set the landscape for one of the most defining songs on heartbreak this year
- Kendrick Lamar & Baby Keem – The Hilbillies (Producer: EVILGIANE)
Jersey Club was everywhere this year. In K-Pop with NewJeans. Reggaeton with Bad Bunny. And rappers from Earl Sweatshirt, NLE Choppa, and DaBaby all rapped on Jersey Club beats. Kendrick and Keem’s was the best outing. Kendrick and Keem go back and forth on taking over the world aided by the Bon Iver sample, and the bouncing beat produced by EVILGIANE which is indebted to black producers and dancers from Newark.
- Madison Ryann Ward – Keep Forgiving (Producer: Joel Setien)
Grief and forgiveness are a journey. It takes knowing and growing to continue to honor the people in your life and move forward. This song is a perfect example of it. Contemporary Gospel if I can it that. Going to her concert and hearing her testimony and making of her album gives the song more meaning.
- Earl Sweatshirt/The Alchemist/Vince Staples – Mancala (Producer: The Alchemist)
Vince stole the show here
- Jungle – Dominos (Producer: J. Lloyd)
Perfect song to dance to
- Braxton Cook & Marquis Hill – The Same (Producer: Braxton Cook)
Breezy jazzy track. Makes sense this operates as a pop song as Braxton Cook has played Saxophone for Taylor Swift and Mac Miller records.
- MIKE & Earl Sweatshirt – Plz Dont Cut My Wings (Producer: dj blackpower)
The orchestral production leads to an introspective track
- Ed Sheeran – Life Goes On (Producer: Aaron Dessner)
I know non-fans of Ed give him flack for his songwriting concepts or lack of, but here Ed pulls on the heartstrings of the memories and moments of people gone, but gives us the fuel to move forward
- JPEGMafia/Danny Brown – Burfict! (Producer: JPEGMafia)
Apparently, the song is named after a former linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals. Peggy and Danny go for hilarious verses on here. Peggy a crazy producer also.
- Eslabon Armado/Peso Pluma – Ella Baila Sola (Producers: Pedro Tovar Jr. & Ernesto Fernandez)
My only introduction to Regional Mexican music often was through Banda at friends parties or La Ley for Chicago(land) people. Hearing this and the rise of Doble P is a moment.
- Nourished by Time – The Fields (Producer: Nourished By Time)
Dreamy and hazy. Retro R&B meets dance music paired with lyrics on consumeration
- NxWorries (Anderson Paak and Knxwledge) – Daydreaming (Producer: Knxwledge)
Summer song of 2023. Perfect driving music
- Tori Kelly – Missin U (Producers: Tori Kelly, Tenroc, Jon Bellion & The Diner)
One the greatest surprises this year. Tori shines on here and makes me feel I’m back in 2004
- Dave/Central Cee – UK Rap (Producer: Kyle Evans)
Sprinter was the main draw on their short project but UK Rap was a solid entry. Also, Central Cee is Guyanese and that’s a plus.
- Victoria Monet – On My Mama (Producers: Deputy, Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman, & D’Mile)
The Charli Boy I Look Good sample gets a new life. The growing trumpets. The video is great with the choreography.
- Jamila Woods – Backburner (Producer: McClenney)
When relationships become rocky or strained, whether romantically, or with friends or family, it teaches us how we need to grow and in the lyrics what cups to be filled. We can’t hold jealousy or anger when relationships become strained makes us angry vessels.
- Samara Joy – Tight (Producer: Samara Joy)
Less than 2 minutes long, the staccato and precision of a vocalist thats only 24 years old. I had a chance to see her life this year and was amazing. If you ever have the opportunity to see Samara Joy live, go for it.
- Sampha – Spirit 2.0 (Producers: Sampha, El Guincho, Riccardo Damian)
Faith, Love, and Time are teachers. Lessons on fatherhood for Sampha paint a picture of self-discovery.
- Fred Again & Obongjayar – Adore U (Producers: Fred Again, Four Tet, PARSI, Tobias Wincorn)
The twinkling rising pianos are very reminiscent of a 90s house track.
- Cleo Sol – Old Friends (Producer: Inflo)
Sometimes in order to grow, we lose the very close friends we hold dear. There are lessons in loss and confusion. We grow into ourselves and learn to forgive. It does not stop the grief of losing someone, but it’s knowing we’ll be ok
- Derric Gobourne Jr. – Until (Intro) (Producer: Derric Gobourne Jr.)
Most fans of R&B miss the feeling of 90s R&B. What if I told you the R&B of SWV, Boyz ll Men, En Vogue, and Shai never left and there are artists carrying the flag in the present.
- Jeff Rosenstock – Doubt (Producer: Jack Shirley)
You have permission to speak even when it feels awkward or your voice is shaking.
Best Albums 2023
- Cleo Sol – Gold
This is a contemporary gospel. Songs on fatih overcoming doubt, anxiety, fear, and becoming one with one’s self
- Navy Blue – Ways of Knowing
Lyrics on family and love and growing into oneself
- Earl Sweatshirt/The Alchemist – Voir Dire
The hidden YouTube album that was discussed for years, showcasing Earl’s lyrics and The Alchmist’s production
- D2X – Hotel 1105
Song on faith, growing as a man and fatherhood
- Jamila Woods – Water Made Us
The stories of past relationships and friendships teach us what we need to learn in order to water and grow our own gardens
- Braxton Cook – Who Are You When No One Is Watching?
Jazz record that acts as a pop record. Fitting as Braxton Cook did play on Taylor Swift’s Lavender Haze
- Victoria Monet – Jaguar ll
Wished I got in one the first Jaguar record. But a great R&B record that also borrows from soul and reggae.
- Sampha – Lahai
We waited 7 years for this. But what Sampha’s first album addressed mourning his parents. The latest album gives life into fatherhood
- Ric Wilson/A-Trak/Chromeo – Clusterfunk
Perfect summer album. Nice album to dance to while giving a side eye to celebrities and influencers only addressing change at face value, white supremacists, and mainstream politicians
- Madison Ryann Ward – A New Thing
Is it contemporary gospel, or CCM? Labels don’t matter here. She is a great singer and brings levity and groundedness to addressing doubts and personal convictions with the lord.
- Noname – Sundial
The strength of this album is Noname even also turns the hypocrisy from non-black fans and herself
- Cleo Sol – Heaven
Lessons on strained friendships and relationships led to greater self-love
- Overmono – Good Lies
Ready-made dancefloor burners
- Mick Jenkins – The Patience
Most aggressive Mick comes across, but he gets the point across in a short amount of time
- Tori Kelly – tori
Tori takes a turn on 2000s pop aided by folks such as Jon Bellion, Darkchild, and Timbaland
- Jorja Smith – Falling or Flying
A lot of great R&B albums from this year. This is a great effort from Jroja.
- Kelela – Raven
This was released back in January, but great record to dance to
- Kali Uchis – Red Mood in Venus
In the lead-up to the album, Kali wrote that love is the message. Songs on navigating heartbreak and loss on this R&B record
- Brandee Younger – Brand New Life
Dreamy Jazz Harp Album
- Asake – Work of Art
Surging Nigerian artist mixing both Afrobeat and South African Amapiano
- Nourished By Time – Erotic Probiotic 2
A perfect blend of retro production in the modern R&B landscape
- Terrance Martin & Alex Isley – I Left My Heart in Ladera
Great singer & producer combo. Slow Dancing in the Living Room is a favorite
- Zach Bryan – Zach Bryan
The perfect entry point into Country music for people who don’t love country. Especially the tracks with Kacey Musgraves and The War & Treaty
- Jessie Ware – That! Feels Good!
Retro disco album
- Jim Legxacy – HNPM
Rapper and producer uniting new and old ideas within the UK Rap and Drill landscape all within a span of 25 mins
- JPEGMafia/Danny Brown – Scarin The H…
Comical bars, out-of-pocket samples, and wild production
- Burna Boy – I Told Them
BIggest Afrobeat artist in the world, hones it in here with several features
- Jordan Ward – FORWARD
Everyone was playing White Crocs, but listening further, he has a lot to say
- Andre 3000 – New Blue Sun
No matter if we don’t get an album where he raps about getting a colonoscopy, Andre feels at peace working in this set of jazz players
- The Juju Exchange – Jazz Rx
Local Chicago group bring jazz as a prescription and remedy to social issues and maladies
Honorable Mentions
Songs Honorable Mention
Mac Demarco – Fooled by Love
Tyler the Creator – Heaven To Me
Beyonce – My House
Tego Calderon – La Receta
Jungle – Back on 74
Tyla – Water
Coco Jones – ICU
Don Toliver/James Blake – Let Her Go
PinkPanthress/Ice Spice – Boys a Liar Pt. 2
Earl Sweatshirt – Making the Band (Danity Kane)
Madison Ryann Ward – Faded Dreams
Injury Reserve – Double Trio/Bye Storm
Boygenius – True blue
RxNephew – The UnderDog
Megan Thee Stallion – Cobra
Kirk Franklin/Chandlar Moore/Jonathan McReynolds/Jekalyn Carr/Tori Kelly – Again
Babytron/Lil Yachty/JID – Half Doin Dope
André 3000 – “I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a “Rap” Album but This is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me ThisTime”
Don Omar – Sincero (Salsa)
Asake – Amapiano
Albums Honorable Mention
Black Thought & El Michaels Affairs – Glorious Game
MIKE – Burning Desire
Jungle – Volcano
Khamari – A Brief Nirvana
Jayda G – Guy
Everything But the Girl – Fuse
Ausar – I Know Now
Olivia Rodrigo – Guts
Janelle Monáe – The Age of Pleasure
Nas – Magic 2/Magic 3
Yussef Dayes – Black Classical Music
Jay Worhty/Kamaiyah/Harry Fraud – The Am3rican Dream
The Typecaster 